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State Police Bill: Public Submissions Close Today as Nigeria Nears Historic Policing Reform

Published

2 months ago

August 13, 2026

State Police Reform: FG Invites Nigerians to Submit Policy Proposals as Draft Bill Nears September Deadline

Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill

State Police Bill: Public Submissions Close Today as Nigeria Nears Historic Policing Reform

The Presidency has announced that the window for public submissions on the proposed National Policing Bill will close at 5 PM today, Thursday, August 13, 2026. Nigerians have until the deadline to contribute their views on the proposed legislation, a key component of the Federal Government’s efforts to establish state police across the country. The closure marks the end of an intensive public consultation period that has seen citizens, civil society organisations, and security experts weigh in on what could become one of the most transformative security reforms in Nigeria’s history.

Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, disclosed the deadline on Wednesday and urged citizens, professionals, and stakeholders to take advantage of the final opportunity to shape the proposed framework. The public consultation, launched on August 3 alongside the nationalpolicingbill.com platform, was deliberately opened while critical decisions were still being made, allowing professional expertise and lived experiences to influence the drafting process before the executive proposal is finalised. Gbajabiamila emphasised that this was not a mere token exercise but a genuine effort to ensure that the final bill reflects the aspirations and concerns of everyday Nigerians who would be most affected by the establishment of state police.

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One of the most persistent fears surrounding the state police proposal has been the possibility of political interference, and Gbajabiamila addressed this head-on, acknowledging that state governors could misuse state-controlled police forces against political opponents, peaceful protesters, journalists, and minority communities. He emphasised that the proposed framework must contain strong protections against abuse and that the law must be designed in a way that makes it difficult for political officeholders to bend police operations to their will. “The concern that governors might use state police against political opponents, minority communities or dissenting voices is serious and must be answered in the design of the law,” Gbajabiamila stated. He stressed that the proposed law must make “unlawful orders easier to resist, misconduct easier to investigate, and political interference harder to hide,” while also ensuring that citizens have access to credible complaints and independent oversight mechanisms. Officers, he added, must be properly recruited, trained, equipped, and supervised to maintain professional standards across all state police services.

Despite the progress made on the proposed National Policing Bill, Gbajabiamila clarified that state police cannot be established immediately and that significant constitutional hurdles remain. Section 214 of the Nigerian Constitution currently provides for only one police force—the Nigeria Police Force—meaning a constitutional amendment is required before states can establish separate police services. Both chambers of the National Assembly have approved proposed constitutional amendments providing for a Federal Police Service and State Police Services, but the process is not yet complete. The amendments must complete remaining legislative stages in the National Assembly, then be approved by at least 24 of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, and finally receive presidential assent. Gbajabiamila explained that “the constitutional amendment creates the authority and broad architecture for federal and state policing, but it does not by itself provide the complete operating framework,” underscoring the need for complementary legislation to fill in the operational details.

The Presidential Working Group is preparing the National Policing Bill to run alongside the constitutional amendment process, and the proposed legislation would establish national minimum standards covering a wide range of operational areas. These include recruitment, vetting, and training; remuneration, pensions, and equipment; professional conduct and discipline; use of force and complaints mechanisms; independent oversight; intelligence-sharing and cooperation between federal and state police services; and sustainable funding arrangements. The draft Executive Bill is scheduled for presentation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on September 3, 2026, as part of a seven-week work programme running from July 27 to September 14. This timeline reflects the administration’s determination to move swiftly on the reform while ensuring that all necessary safeguards are built into the legislative framework before transmission to the National Assembly.

Gbajabiamila stressed that even after the constitutional amendment and National Policing Bill become law, state police will not automatically be established across all 36 states, as each state that chooses to establish a service will still need its own enabling law, institutions, and funding. It must also meet the national conditions for operation before its officers can begin policing, ensuring that no state rushes into establishing a police force without the necessary capacity and oversight mechanisms in place. States that are not ready or willing to establish their own police services would continue to be served by the Nigeria Police Force, guaranteeing that no citizen is left without policing coverage during the transitional period.

Gbajabiamila said the reform aims to build a policing system that is “closer, faster and better informed by local conditions,” with officers familiar with a community’s language, geography, and crime patterns better positioned to gather intelligence and respond effectively to local security challenges. However, he maintained that the new system must not sacrifice citizens’ rights, cautioning that “proximity does not guarantee justice.” He insisted that the law must protect citizens regardless of who holds office, and that it must protect opposition parties, peaceful protesters, journalists, and minority communities from potential abuses of power. The consultation will complement, rather than replace, the role of the National Assembly, which retains the power to scrutinise, amend, reject, or pass the Bill when transmitted. As the 5 PM deadline approaches, Nigerians are being reminded that their voices remain essential in shaping a reform that could redefine the relationship between citizens and the security apparatus for generations to come.

State Police Bill: Public Submissions Close Today as Nigeria Nears Historic Policing Reform

Related Topics:bill Featured Public Submissions State Police

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Lagos Club Robbery: Police Arrest Suspect After N5m Bounty

Published

8 minutes ago

September 27, 2026

Trends Admin

Lagos Club Robbery: Police Arrest Suspect After N5m Bounty

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a suspected member of the gang that allegedly robbed clubgoers outside Ghost and Spirits Lounge on Ekoro Road, Abule Egba, Lagos.

The suspect was reportedly identified from video footage of the incident, which showed several people being attacked outside the entertainment venue in the early hours of the morning.

The Lagos club robbery reportedly occurred at about 4am on Saturday after some customers had left the lounge and gathered around their vehicles.

Footage from the scene showed several clubgoers sitting around a vehicle when the suspected robbers approached.

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One of the suspects, reportedly dressed in a green shirt and cap, appeared to move among the people before allegedly targeting one of the victims.

Another member of the group was reportedly seen in an SUV parked across the road before a gunshot was fired, causing some of the people at the scene to run for safety.

The suspect in the green shirt was then allegedly seen taking a wristwatch from one of the victims, while other members of the group reportedly collected valuables before escaping in their vehicle.

Following the incident, the management of the lounge announced a N5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators.

The reward and subsequent investigation helped the police identify and track one of the suspects, who was eventually arrested.

A police source said the suspect was in custody and being interrogated, with investigators seeking information that could lead to the arrest of the other alleged members of the gang.

The Lagos Police Command has also intensified efforts to locate the remaining suspects, who are reportedly still at large.

The incident has raised concerns among residents and nightlife customers in Abule Egba, particularly over the security of people leaving entertainment venues during the early hours.

Police authorities have urged residents with useful information about the suspects or the robbery to assist the investigation.

The arrested suspect remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court, while investigations continue into the alleged robbery and the identities and whereabouts of the other suspects.

Lagos Club Robbery: Police Arrest Suspect After N5m Bounty

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Passenger Dies After Jumping From Moving Bus In Lagos

Published

25 minutes ago

September 27, 2026

Trends Admin

Passenger Dies After Jumping From Moving Bus In Lagos

A passenger has died after jumping from a moving commercial bus at Ogunlana Junction, inward Ojuelegba, in the Surulere area of Lagos.

The incident involved a Volkswagen commercial bus with registration number LND 130 XR, which reportedly crashed into a median pole around the Fallout area of Surulere.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said preliminary security reports indicated that the driver was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and had been driving recklessly shortly before the crash.

According to the agency, motorists approaching the bus from behind had to exercise caution to avoid colliding with the vehicle as it reportedly moved erratically.

Amid the incident, a male passenger reportedly jumped from the moving bus, apparently attempting to escape from the uncontrolled vehicle. He sustained serious injuries after hitting the ground and later died from his injuries.

LASTMA officials conducting routine traffic surveillance along the Ojuelegba axis responded to the scene after noticing the crash. They secured the area, managed traffic and removed the damaged bus and the deceased passenger from the carriageway to reduce the risk of a secondary collision.

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Police officers from the Area C Police Division, Ojuelegba, provided security at the scene, while officials of the State Emergency Management Agency evacuated the remains of the deceased.

LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the incident as a reminder of the dangers associated with driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving and operating vehicles that may not be mechanically fit for the road.

Bakare-Oki urged commercial and private motorists to conduct comprehensive checks on their vehicles before every journey, with particular attention to the braking system, tyres, steering mechanism and other critical safety components.

He also commiserated with the family of the deceased and reaffirmed LASTMA‘s commitment to responding promptly to road crashes, managing traffic and clearing accident scenes.

The agency urged motorists and other road users to report accidents, vehicle breakdowns and other traffic obstructions through its toll-free short code, 3367.

Passenger Dies After Jumping From Moving Bus In Lagos

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Kubwa Explosion: Vehicle Crashes Into Gas Outlet, Damages Nine Shops

Published

8 hours ago

September 27, 2026

Trends Admin

Kubwa Explosion: Vehicle Crashes Into Gas Outlet, Damages Nine Shops

Panic broke out in Kubwa, Abuja, on Sunday morning after a gas explosion rocked the Liberty Junction area, following a vehicle crash into a roadside gas retail outlet.

The incident occurred at about 6:15 a.m., sending a powerful blast through the area and causing nearby buildings to shake, while thick smoke and flames rose from the affected facility.

The vehicle reportedly veered off the road and crashed into the gas outlet, triggering the explosion and subsequent fire.

The impact affected several businesses around the junction, with reports indicating that nine shops were damaged or destroyed by the ensuing fire.

A nearby police traffic post was also reportedly uprooted by the force of the explosion, while other structures and sections of the surrounding area were damaged.

The vehicle involved in the crash was badly burnt in the incident. Emergency responders, however, reportedly rescued the driver and a child from the wreckage.

The injured driver was taken to a medical facility for treatment, while emergency personnel worked to prevent the fire from spreading to other shops and properties in the densely populated area.

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The explosion triggered panic among residents and commuters, with people reportedly rushing away from the scene as the fire continued to burn.

Emergency response agencies, including the Federal Fire Service, FCT Fire Service, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Police Force, were deployed to the scene.

Firefighters battled the flames for hours before the situation was brought under control.

The incident also caused significant traffic disruption around Liberty Junction and the Kubwa axis, as motorists slowed down and emergency responders worked at the scene.

Security personnel subsequently moved people away from the immediate area and helped manage traffic while the damaged vehicle and other debris were cleared.

Initial reports did not indicate a confirmed death from the explosion, although the driver was reported to have sustained injuries.

Authorities had yet to provide a detailed official account explaining why the vehicle veered off the road or confirming the full extent of the damage and injuries as of the time of reporting.

The incident has again drawn attention to safety concerns surrounding gas outlets located close to busy roads, shops and residential areas, particularly in densely populated parts of the Federal Capital Territory.

Further assessment by relevant authorities is expected to establish the precise circumstances of the crash, the extent of the property damage and whether any safety breaches contributed to the incident.